Lolo Highway Evacuation -Sunday Morning Fire Update August 13

From Lolo Peak Fire Incident Command Sunday August 13 at 11 a.m.
The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office has issued an EVACUATION ORDER to immediately leave the Hwy 12 corridor from mile marker 20 at Bear Creek to Fort Fizzle; this is for both the NORTH and SOUTH sides of Hwy 12. Do not delay, wildfire conditions present an immediate threat.

Evacuees should stop at Roper’s Lounge at 10565 US Highway 12, Lolo to check in with Sheriff’s Deputies.

The Red Cross will open a shelter at the Florence Carlton Community Church at 20075 old US Highway 93 at 12 PM today. For animal sheltering call Animal Control at 541-7387 and leave a message.

Law enforcement and fire department cooperators on the Lolo Peak Fire have entered Unified Command this morning following significant fire spread overnight and extreme fire weather predicted for today. Wind gusts of 40 miles per hour (or more) are predicted for today.

Last night outflow winds from thunderstorms moved across the Lolo Peak Fire bringing strong winds which resulted in significant growth on the north edge of fire. After smoke cleared out of the valleys, firefighters were able to get a much better look this morning and determined that there was fire established north of what has been referred to as management action point six. The fire is expected to reach primary containment lines to the north today.

The Lolo Peak Fire will be receiving an influx of additional resources, some from surrounding fires and structure resources from Missoula Rural and Ravalli County.

Phone Information:

Evacuation: 406-258-4636
Fire: 406-272-5433

From the KLYQ Newsroom earlier today:
Strong winds blew through the Bitterroot Valley Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Firefighters were extra vigilant during a Red Flag Warning weekend in western Montana.

The acreage of nearby forest fires the morning of August 13th (from Inciweb):

The Lolo Peak fire is at 7,903 acres. Evacuation warning in effect for portions of Highway 12. The highway remains open.

The Sunrise Fire south of Superior is at 18,629 acres. Evacuation Stage III is in effect for Trout Creek Road from Magone Ranch through the fire area, Quartz Creek, Cougar Gulch and Verde Creek. Evacuation Warning Stage II covers Riverbend, Sunrise and a portion of Diamond Match Road, along with Riverbend, Sunrise and Quartz Flat.

The Sapphire Complex is at 30,032 acres, the Meyers fire is at 13,711 acres.

Near Eureka, the Gibralter fire is now at 1,850 acres. Evacuations remain in place.

Near Seeley Lake, the Rice Ridge fire is 11,051 acres and the Liberty fire is 4,973 acres. Evacuation warnings remain in place,

West of the Bitterroot Valley, in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, the Hidden Fire is at 4,242 acres, the Moose 1 fire is at 7,758 acres, the Lone Pine fire has burned over 5,650 acres.

In the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, the Rattlesnake Point fire is 4,069, continuing to burn to the east.

The weekend wind caused Hamilton's air quality to improve Sunday morning into the Moderate level. Mid-morning Sunday, Missoula air quality was Unhealthy and the Seeley Lake monitor registered levels in the Very Unhealthy range.